Serving Gogebic, Iron and Ontonagon Counties

Articles from the April 6, 2023 edition


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  • Gogebic County Fair Board trying for rodeo replacement

    Apr 6, 2023

    By P.J. GLISSON [email protected] IRONWOOD — Members of the Gogebic County Fair Board voted on Monday evening to move the fair’s mud races from Sunday afternoon to Saturday evening in hopes of reestablishing a rodeo on Sunday afternoon. This year’s fair will run from Aug. 10-13. Monday’s action reversed a decision in a previous meeting to move the races from Saturday to Sunday when a formerly lined up rodeo company backed out for insurance reasons. Monday’s vote split nearly evenly. Linda Nelson, Crystal Suzik, Melinda Kostac, Shelley S...

  • Snowriver offers wacky fun in final weekends of skiing

    Apr 6, 2023

    By P.J. GLISSON [email protected] WAKEFIELD TOWNSHIP — Despite some continuing snowfall, spring has sprung, and it was evident last Saturday at Jackson Creek Summit in Wakefield Township. Snowriver Mountain Resort was celebrating Hawaiian Day, and it brought out a bevy of snow gear in every color of the rainbow as skiers loaded the slopes to enjoy the site’s last weekend of skiing. The festive day included two fun races and even had one woman singing as she headed down the slopes. In a Sunday phone call, Snowriver General Manager Benjamin...

  • Grimsby to lead Gogebic County Chapter of MTA

    Apr 6, 2023

    By P.J. GLISSON [email protected] GOGEBIC COUNTY — The spring season has brought a broad slate of new leadership to the Gogebic County Chapter of the Michigan Townships Association. At the most recent meeting last week, three of the four officers were newly elected to their seats. They are Larry Grimsby as chairman, Jeffery Randall as vice-chairman, and Betty Perkis as secretary. Maria Graser was re-elected as treasurer. Grimsby and Perkis are from Erwin Township, where he serves as supervisor and she serves as clerk. Randall is the Besse...

  • Trailblazer

    Apr 6, 2023

    By P.J. GLISSON [email protected] UPSON, Wis. - Late in March, directly next to Wisconsin's Uller Trails, all the makings of a winter paradise were set up to honor one of the people who has made the paths possible for decades. Charles Zinsmaster of Pence - known commonly as "Charlie" - was surrounded by family, friends, neighbors, former workmates, fellow volunteers, and romping dogs in various colors and sizes. A bonfire burned while meat sizzled on grills, and lunch was spread out on a...

  • Phyllis Marie (Spindler) Koski

    Apr 6, 2023

    SHAKOPEE, Minn. - Phyllis Marie (Spindler) Koski, age 81, of Shakopee, passed away peacefully on Tuesday, March 21, 2023, surrounded by her family after a long battle with cancer. A celebration of Phyllis's life will be held at 11 a.m. on Saturday, April 1, at Shepherd of the Lake Lutheran Church, 3611 Berens Road NW, Prior Lake, with Pastor Dan Poffenberger presiding. A time of gathering will be held from 9 to 11 a.m. prior to services. In lieu of flowers, please make a donation to your local...

  • James 'Jim' Robert Somerville

    Apr 6, 2023

    IRONWOOD, Mich. - We are sad to announce the unexpected passing of James "Jim" Robert Somerville. Born on Nov. 10, 1939, Jim grew up in East Lansing. After graduating from Resurrection High School, he joined the U.S. Navy, serving for two years aboard the USS Hartley. Returning from the Navy, Jim attended and graduated from Michigan State University in 1965 earning a Bachelor of Science in landscape architecture. Anyone that met Jim knew he was a passionate fan of the Michigan State Spartans!...

  • Michael 'Mike' Anthony Holmes

    Apr 6, 2023

    IRONWOOD, Mich. - Michael "Mike" Anthony Holmes, 61, of Ironwood, passed away unexpectedly on Wednesday, March 29, 2023. He was born on Sept. 16, 1961, to Jack and Carol Holmes in Kenosha, Wisconsin. He graduated from Ironwood Catholic High School where he played varsity basketball. Following graduation, Mike attended Gogebic Community College for welding. In September 1983, he married Christine Scheel. Together they built a house in Erwin Township and had two children, Jason and Courtney. Mike...

  • Troy Armour

    Apr 6, 2023

    ONTONAGON, Mich. — Troy Armour, of Ontonagon, passed away unexpectedly March 16, 2023. He was born Nov. 3, 1987, to Cathy and Dennis Armour. Troy was the youngest of two boys. He is survived by his children: sons, Gage and Mason, and daughter, Adrian; his brother, Arel and nephew, Raymond; as well as many family and friends. Troy was born in Seattle, and moved to Upper Michigan with his mother and brother in 1998. He graduated from Ontonagon Area High School in 2006. He was a hard worker and spent most of the past decade working in North D...

  • George Nygard

    Apr 6, 2023

    ONTONAGON, Mich. - George Nygard, 83, of Ontonagon passed away surrounded by his children on Saturday, March 18, 2023, at Aspirus Hospital in Wausau, Wisconsin. He was born March 5, 1940, in Ontonagon to the late Walter and Bessie (Bally) Nygard. Upon graduation from Ontonagon High School, George enlisted with the U.S. Air Force and was stationed in Texas and then Spain, where he worked in communications. After his service in the Air Force, George attended the University of Wisconsin-Oshkosh....

  • Lou Crosby

    Apr 6, 2023

    VERONA, Wis. - Lou Crosby, 87, formerly of Wisconsin Rapids and Montreal, died peacefully from natural causes on March 19, 2023, at her home in Verona. Born Sept. 20, 1935, in Dixon, Illinois, the former Lou Anne Wadsworth was the daughter of Les and Amy (Ackert) Wadsworth. After her family moved to Evanston, Illinois, in 1950, she graduated from Evanston Township High School and married Wayne P. Hochmuth in December 1952. Throughout her life, Lou was a woman who embraced what came her way with...

  • Robert G. Friedman

    Apr 6, 2023

    ST. JOSEPH, Mich. - Robert G. Friedman (aka "Jerry," "Curly" or "Sam"), 89, passed on Dec. 1, 2022, in St. Joseph, with wife Shirley by his side. Jerry was born at Cook County Hospital in Chicago on Nov. 10, 1933, to Marion and Charles Friedman. He lived in Chicago and Ironwood for the next six years. Then, he attended grade school at St. Hedwig Orphanage in Niles, Illinois, St. Ambrose High School in Ironwood and St. Norbert College in De Pere, Wisconsin. Jerry enrolled in Army ROTC in...

  • Evelyn Behrendt

    Apr 6, 2023

    IRONWOOD, Mich. - Evelyn Behrendt passed away on March 30, 2023, from complications of a stroke. She was born on Feb. 28th, the daughter of Eugene and Ellen Ringwall. Evelyn attended Ironwood schools and graduated in 1954. She married Rod W. Behrendt on Aug. 6, 1955, and lived to celebrate their 67th anniversary this past summer. Evelyn enjoyed several different jobs throughout her adult life. She was a people person and loved interacting with the public. She found her dream job when she...

  • Jon Allen Pudas

    Apr 6, 2023

    HURLEY, Wis. - On March 26, 2023, Jon Allen Pudas of Hurley, Wisconsin - beloved husband, father, and friend - passed away at the Mayo Clinic in Rochester, Minnesota, after a lengthy battle with cancer. Jon was born on Feb. 22, 1953, in Ironwood, Michigan, to Arnold and Dagmar (Anderson) Pudas. From an early age, Jon developed an affinity for working outdoors. He worked on a farm during his middle and high school years, which instilled a firm work ethic he would possess his entire life. From...

  • Clarence 'Kelly' Helgren

    Apr 6, 2023

    NASHVILLE, Tenn. - Clarence "Kelly" Helgren, 92, formerly of Ironwood, Michigan, died peacefully on March 24, 2023, in Nashville. Kelly was born in 1930 in the Helgren family home in Erwin Township, Michigan, that was built by his grandparents, John and Anna Helgren, in 1906. Despite only having an eighth-grade education, Kelly earned an associate degree from Gogebic Community College, and later a bachelor's degree from Northern Michigan University, and a master's degree from the University of...

  • Community Calendar

    Apr 6, 2023

    Email calendar items and community news to [email protected]. For more information, call 906-932-2211. Thursday, April 6 Bessemer St. Vincent de Paul, financial assistance, 9-10 a.m.; food pantry, 10 a.m. to noon. 906-663-4436. Mercer Health and Wellness, 9:30-11:30 a.m., Mercer Community Center. Ironwood St. Vincent de Paul, food pantry and financial assistance, 9:30 a.m.-12:30 p.m., located behind Our Lady of Peace Catholic Church. 906-932-4325. Gogebic County Veterans Service Officer, 10:30-11:30 a.m., Wakefield City Hall; 1-2 p.m.,...